Pakistan’s Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that recent tour of South Africa has made Pakistan mentally stronger and it would help the team acclimatize to difficult conditions during the Champions Trophy in England starting June 6.

[caption id="attachment_848" align="alignright" width="300"] Misbah believes the tough South Africa conditions would help Pakistan in England next month (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

Although Pakistan lost both Test and ODI series against South Africa, Misbah believes the experience of playing against the stronger opponents like South Africa would pay off in the next month’s event.

“Having played in the tougher conditions in South Africa, our players are more focused for difficult conditions in the coming event,” Misbah said.

A six-day training camp held in the cool weather of Abbottabad, located at an altitude of 1260m, ended on Wednesday.

The players will again gather on Monday in Lahore to leave for Scotland where they are set to play two ODIs. The team will also play two one-dayers against Ireland before the Champions Trophy.

Pakistan are in Group B of the Champions Trophy and will take on West Indies on June 7, before playing South Africa and archrivals India on June 10 and June 15, respectively.

The Group A includes the hosts England, defending champions Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Misbah said the cooler conditions in Abbottabad helped the team members to get used to the English conditions.

Talking about the axing of experienced Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi, Misbah said it is not easy to play without senior players but such tough decisions had to be taken.

He said Pakistan still have many match-winning players in the team.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said it was difficult to predict the team’s chances in the upcoming event. However, he said the players had the potential to pressure any team if they play to the best of their ability.